Is this 'tight security'?

LOOPHOLE: When I was going to the World Trade Centre in the morning around 8 am last week, I saw over 20 security personnel busy checking the many vehicles that enter one behind the other. I stood for a while to see how they cope with the situation.

Some officers were shouting at either their juniors or newly recruited ones, when familiar vehicles were approaching, including a few tinted vehicles, instructing 'oke hari,' 'oke hari' (That one is ok). So such vehicles proceeded unchecked. I then realized the lapse that lies there.

In such vehicles specially in tinted ones, most probably, Chairmen, Directors, CEOs or other known VIPs of the institutions situated therein must be travelling hence the 'oke hari'. What if terrorists have kidnapped one such 'known one' at some point and drive in the vehicle laden with explosives? It will be like the September 11th in America.

After that, as usual, some commission will be appointed to probe how the vehicle slipped in which will be for the public or rather to the dear and near ones of the victims a totally unwanted exercise.

Prudent people in peak position should insist the security officers to check their vehicles too to avert any sort of serious problems to themselves later while contemplating to terrorist tactics as well.

When I was relating this to my sister who was an ex-employee of the Petroleum Corporation she told me a story of what was heard in her office sometime back.

During the Shell Company period one day the big boss - a 'sudda', was driving towards the 'installation area', where vehicles should be compulsorily checked to avoid even a box of matches being taken inside.

A security officer new to the gate had stopped the vehicle in spite of others signalling him to allow the vehicles since it was the big boss. Having checked the vehicle of any inflammable items he had also politely asked whether a box of matches was in his possession.

After the vehicle proceeded his colleagues started talking about the possible punishment he would have to face including a 'sacking'. But, surprisingly the big boss had recommended a promotion to that particular security officer for executing his duty without a concern whom he was 'handling'.

This story has a lesson for those VIPs serving in that Bank of Ceylon Mawatha which has three high rise buildings.

Nazly Cassim - Colombo 13.